Reaching the World at our Doorstep
George Fox International Student Ministries
Every year close to one million international students from around the world areenrolled as university students here in the U.S. Though they come from a varietyof cultural understandings, they are also very open to forming friendships,sharing about their cultures, and learning about American ways as well. And yet,many of these students will never have the opportunity to be invited to anAmerican person’s home, much less form a friendship with someone who is a
believer in Jesus Christ.
This fall, George Fox University will welcome approximately 40 newly arrivedinternational students, and they will join the 110 internationals who are alreadyenrolled in our school. Our desire is to bless their lives, not only by providingthem with a quality education, but also to introduce them to caring people whoare a reflection of the reality of Jesus Christ within them. One means throughwhich this goal is accomplished is by the university’s international orientationhost family program.
Each school year George Fox begins with an orientation planned only forinternational students. This occurs before the American students arrive oncampus. During this time, dormitories are available on our campus for thestudents to move into, but an empty dorm room is not a welcoming sight,especially in forming a lasting first impression of the students’ arrival inAmerica. In addition, there are graduate students arriving who will not be stayingin dormitories. Therefore, the International Student Services office at theuniversity invites families from the local area to host a student or two while theyare attending orientation. The families typically host the students for theweekend preceding the orientation and then host them in the evenings during thenext few days of the orientation.
This act of hospitality could be seen as a small gesture, but our students’feedback is that it is a very meaningful experience for newly arrived, uncertain,and anxious students as they begin their new life in America. We have alsorecognized that the impact of this experience is not confined only to the lives ofthe students. Our host families also attest of the great blessing that having thesegracious international students have been to them as well.
Would you prayerfully consider the opportunity to serve as a host family duringthe International Student Orientation? Students arrive in mid-August and need housing for about a week. Pleasecontact Alex Pia, Director of International Student and Scholar Services atGeorge Fox University, for more information or to sign up.
503‐554‐2643